Shakespeare's Sonnet 143

Lo, as a careful housewife runs to catch A

One of her feather'd creatures broke away, B

Sets down her babe, and makes all swift dispatch A

In pursuit of the thing she would have stay; B

Whilst her neglected child holds her in chase, C

Cries to catch her whose busy care is bent D

To follow that which flies before her face, C

Not prizing her poor infant's discontent; D

So runn'st thou after that which flies from thee, E

Whilst I thy babe chase thee afar behind; F

But if thou catch thy hope, turn back to me, E

And play the mother's part, kiss me, be kind; F

So will I pray that thou mayst have thy 'Will,' G

If thou turn back and my loud crying still. G

Feet Q. 3

So runn'st /thou af/ter that /which flies /from thee,

Whilst I /thy babe/ chase thee/ afar /behind;

But if /thou catch/ thy hope,/ turn back/ to me,

And play /the mot/her's part,/ kiss me,/ be kind;

Shakespeare's Sonnet 143

Original Sonnet

Metaphors

Quatrain 3 Analysis

Feet Couplet

The entire sonnet is a single metaphor.

Shakespeare believes the woman treats him as a child. The metaphor being between himself and a baby.

So runn'st thou after that which flies from thee,

Whilst I thy babe chase thee afar behind;

But if thou catch thy hope, turn back to me,

And play the mother's part, kiss me, be kind;

So will/ I pray/ that thou/ mayst have/ thy 'Will,'

If thou /turn back /and my /loud cry/ing still.

So also you run from that which flees you

while I chase behind

so if you catch that which you want, turn your attention back to me

and kiss me as a mother would

Quatrain 1 Analysis

Lo, as a careful housewife runs to catch

One of her feather'd creatures broke away,

Sets down her babe, and makes all swift dispatch

In pursuit of the thing she would have stay;

Look, as a wife runs after

a loose chicken,

she sets down her child

in order to chase that which she wants

Quatrain 2 Analysis

Feet Q. 1

Couplet Analysis

Whilst her neglected child holds her in chase,

Cries to catch her whose busy care is bent

To follow that which flies before her face,

Not prizing her poor infant's discontent;

So will I pray that thou mayst have thy 'Will,'

If thou turn back and my loud crying still.

Lo, as/ a care/ful house/wife runs/ to catch

One of /her fea/ther'd /creatures /broke away,

Sets down/ her babe,/ and makes/ all swift/ dispatch

In pur/suit of /the thing /she would /have stay;

I pray you may have me

So my crying for you will stop

While she chases, her baby tries to follow

and cries as the mother neglects her babe

in order to chase the chicken

without regards to her child's needs

Feet Q. 2

Whilst her/ neglec/ted child /holds her /in chase,

Cries to/ catch her/ whose bu/sy care /is bent

To fol/low that /which flies/ before/ her face,

Not pri/zing her/ poor in/fant's dis/content;